Schools

Schools Chief Talks About Budget Cuts, State Funding and Measure E

With inevitable cuts and an election seeking a parcel tax, Pleasanton's school superintendent gives her thoughts on the district's budget.

The  is facing $7.7 million in cuts for 2011-2012. In February, the district's authorized to programs and services.

Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi talked with Pleasanton Patch last week about the cuts slated for the 2011-2012 school year, the status of the budget and possible solutions.

What is the state of the district’s school budget?

Find out what's happening in Pleasantonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

If the , which may now be pushed to November, that is about $370 cut per average daily attendance in addition to $28 per ADA because of the deficit factor.

In addition, paying for AB3632 services, that districts now have to cover themselves, will cost us around $1.2 million.

Find out what's happening in Pleasantonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Despite using the Jobs Bill and available reserves, the district still had to make cuts. This is why the school board voted for a $3.5 million cut for the 2011-2012 school year – to mitigate the budget deficit we are facing due to ongoing deep cuts in our revenue from the state.

The list of cuts totaling $3.5 million includes: 

  • K-3 and  ninth grade class size reduction
  • Remedial summer school for grades 1-5
  • Half of our reading specialists
  • Half of Barton Reading
  • Half of PE specialist time in elementary schools
  • Four classified positions
  • Two-and-a-half full-time-equivalent counseling positions from middle school and high school
  • Health liaison
  • Reduction of ROP (Regional Occupational Program)

If the cuts that have been made and cash inflow from the Jobs Bill and reserve have solved Pleasanton Unified’s $7.7 million deficit, why is a parcel tax necessary?

In the last two years, PUSD has cut nearly $20 million from its budget. Some of the programs on the cut list were restored for one year as result of , which included eight furlough days. Other programs such as elementary music (band/strings), some library hours and technology specialists for middle and elementary schools were brought back for one year through funds raised by PPIE and PSEE.

The district’s goal is to do whatever it takes to restore programs on the list of cuts for 2011-2012. The board, staff and parents believe these are extremely critical programs for students. We — the board, staff and the community — are not content with the cuts by any means. We will continue to work with our employees to find solutions. . Parents and community members continue to look at ways to raise money for education. One thing is very clear: We are all concerned about the state budget for education and how it impacts our children.

What is your reaction to Gov. Jerry Brown's  decision to sign bills that cut $2.1 billion in payments to K-12 schools on March 24? How will this action affect Pleasanton Unified?

Our approved budget for the next three years was already based on this information. We have always believed that we can only base our budget on what we know and not on assumptions or income that we have not received confirmation of. We have to plan and turn in our budgets to the county on time, while the state can delay its final budget by over 100 days, as was done for 2010-2011. This is why we must continue to advocate for education funding at the state and local level.

What kinds of efforts are being made to build support for Measure E?

A campaign is under way and district employees are not permitted to campaign for Measure E using district resources. But many employees are participating in the campaign during their own time.

 What other solutions is the district considering if a parcel tax is not approved and a special election does not occur by June?

We are continuing to work with our employees as well as community organizations to come up with solutions. Should the parcel tax pass, it would bring around $2 million annually for four years, but remember we have $3.5 million on the list of cuts approved on Feb. 22 for the 2011-2012 school year. PPIE and PSEE are our wonderful partners in education and their efforts helped to save some important programs last year.

 The school board recently voted to make cuts in order to address the deficit in 2011-2012. Please describe for us how those cuts were determined.

Sixty-seven teachers already received preliminary layoff notices for either all or a part of their position. This equated to 59 full-time-equivalent positions. This is in addition to notices that are sent to all temporary employees by March 15 every year. 

We started with last year’s list of cuts. No cuts to education are good cuts when we are talking about higher standards and preparing kids for a competitive world. These were very difficult decisions for the board and for staff. Items on the cut list were things that we had the ability to cut and in some cases were given the flexibility by the state. For instance, the state has given districts flexibility in class size reduction. We can increase class sizes by going over 20:1 in K-3 and in ninth grade, with a penalty. The difference between what we save by raising class sizes versus the cost of employees and the penalty provides us some savings.

Last year, the district brought back library and technology specialists through the Because they were brought back through one-time funds, will they not be extended in the upcoming school year?

They were brought back only for this year using CORE funds raised last year. As of now, all the things that were brought back based on concessions or fund-raising campaigns are cut for next year. That’s why we will continue to look for all possible avenues to raise funds and bring positions back.

Could budget conditions get worse and if so, how? If they do get worse, what plans are in place so that the district remains in good standing financially? 

Yes, they could. Remember, this year the budget act was passed in October, over 100 days late. Our goal is to always remain fiscally solvent and that means further analysis of programs, cuts and solutions if things turn out worse than we have anticipated. We were very cautious and planned our budget with that in mind. The state budget that was released in January was based on extension of state taxes. It would not have been a responsible thing to do to assume extension of taxes. We planned our budget only on what we know we have at our disposal; hence, the cuts approved by the board on Feb. 22.  We’re obviously all continuing to look for solutions to bring important programs back.

Editor's Note: This question and answer piece has been edited for length and clarity.


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